Celebrity Watch: Dogs the Stars Love and What It Means

There are more than 78 million pet dogs in our nation, according to the U.S. Humane Society. That’s a lot of wagging tails, sloppy kisses and furry snuggles to go around, and it doesn’t look like pet parenting will be getting less popular anytime soon! For many of us, dogs are more than companions they are members of our families, confidants and even therapists (who’s to say unconditional love doesn’t make any day more upbeat?)

When you visit the dog park or go anywhere where dogs and their owners are prevalent, many of us play a little game in our head called, Does that dog match its owner? Sometimes, people’s choice in their dogs and dog accessories reveals a lot about them. How do your favorite pooches stack up?

Little Engines That Can: Chihuahuas, Pugs, Shih Tzus

Although many of us equate little dogs to princess types, like Paris Hilton and Reese Witherspoon’s character in Legally Blonde, that’s not necessarily the case tough guys like Mickey Rourke have been known to fawn over the love of a Chihuahua. The true toy dog-lover appreciates a little dog’s big heart and knows it’s not just a cute accessory to carry around the department store. Small breeds have also made their way into films, ad campaigns and hearts the world over. Stars like Jessica Alba adore pugs, an attention-loving little companion whose Latin motto, multim in parvo, means a lot in a little. If you’ve ever known a pug, it’s easy to see why.

Regal Companions: Bullmastiffs, Great Danes, Mountain Dogs

Large dogs can seem daunting, but they generally have the hearts to match their size. Michael Bay has two bullmastiffs he’s so devoted to he lets them travel by Escalade, and director Bay has even put them in cameos in his films: Megan Fox’s character in in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” owned a bullmastiff that in real life, belonged to dog-lover Bay. Large dogs like these also reflect an owner’s commitment to training and taking care of them, as they generally require higher maintenance than smaller breeds. Jodie Foster owns a rambunctious boxer named Lucy, and even Mary Kate Olsen owns a large dog, possibly indicating the pint-sized star has more chutzpah than she puts indicates. While there’s no hard-and-fast rule of dog ownership, celebrity dog choices can be as surprising as they are heartwarming.

The Manly Family Guy: Shepards, Labs, Retrievers, Mutts

Jake Gyllenhaal running on the beach with his rescue dogs is truly a sight for sore eyes, and askmen.com labeled the Labrador family of dogs as one of the most manly to own. They are boisterous, lovable, stinky and uncomplicated, which may explain why elegant, down-to-earth stars like Minnie Driver and Gwyneth Paltrow are devout lab lovers. Matt Lauer owns Walden, a golden retriever, another rough-and-tumble breed popular with unassuming types.

Author: Millie Smith:

A chef, dog breeder and entrepreneur, Millie has many interests and loves sharing her thoughts on raising purebred dogs, food and technology.